Double Review ♥ Fire & Flood Series by Victoria Scott.

Fire & Flood
Victoria Scott

Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 25, 2014)

• ISBN-13: 978-0545537469

Genre: Dystopian(maybe), Thriller, Young Adult

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles |Book Depo
Source: Review copy was sent free of charge via Scholastic Press. Thank you Saraciea.
Synopsis: Time is slipping away....  Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything. Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race. The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

• Tella Holloway's brother is terminally sick and there is no medicine or drug out there that can cure him. Her parents move to Montana believing fresh air would help Colin. Soon, she receives a mysertious call to become a Contender in the Brimstone Blood which is an epic race across four ecosystems: jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain. If she wins, she can have the cure that will help her brother. Without hesitaion, Tella jumps at the opportunity, but there are other Contenders after the cure as well. Now Tella must find her way in the race - the jungle is her first stop. There is one question ticking though, why have so many people fallen sick in the first place?

• Unpopular opinion time.. I actually really liked this series, Fire & Flood. I have read many negative reviews on this book and how it is almost a replica of The Hunger Games. Isn't THG a replica of BATTLE ROYALE? I have read both books and it's insane how they're so many similarities. The only real difference is Battle Royale is more gruesome, and THG is more personal/family. With that being said, this book does have obvious elements of THG, but I'm surprised why no one is comparing it to Battle Royale, which is the original book for a dystopian government with some kind of competition(unless one exists before that). Don't get me wrong, The Hunger Games series is still fantastic, but is not unique and neither is the Fire & Flood series, it's just surprising most people barely even question THG. Regardless, I found the author's take on her series intriguing, it's probably inspired, and I don't believe it's an imitation because they're different plot lines. The competition in this series is about survival and not killing. This sounds like a dystopian novel, but there is no wicked government here. It's all very secret. Oh, and the new covers of this series are gorgeous. I hated the eyeballs. Sometimes simple covers are just as elegant as fancy ones. The feathers symbolizes something major in the novel and the titles suit the books well too. I couldn't ask for a more perfect cover for both of these books.

• Tella Holloway is shallow, ignorant, vain, and she shows signs of stupidity.. Without any research, she jumps at the opportunity to save her brother, however, she shows bravery, she's selfless, she loves animals, and she's not cruel. Her character does slightly annoy the reader, but she does grow on you eventually. At the end of the day, she's a teenager and she's being to worry about her makeup and hair. I still do it, and I'm an adult. Although, in a death scenario, that would be the last thing on my mind. The male lead's name is Guy.. He's cold at first, but ultimately he is likeable once you get to know him. His name could have been more better. The romance was interesting as well and I so shipped their boat! I was rooting for both of these characters, I prefer Tella's character more though. She has yet to reach character growth, but she does goes get there slowly, but surely.

• The Pandora's aspect in the novel was different, although it's similar to Digiman - it works though. The Pandoras are animals that are digitally made, but they're actually real. They still eat(although, they can survive without food), you can still hold them and what not. The bond between Tella and her Pandora Maddox, her fox was adorable. Yes, she even names him. Her cutesy character reminded me a bit of Penryn from the Angelfall series, they both name their possessions, and they're innocent yet fiery. The world building plot was fascinating to read about, concepts about adventures are my most favorites. This book was a surprising read since I managed to like it quite a lot. The adventures in the ecosystems jungle and desert were amazing and the writing does have it's fair dose of humor. It's not the most original book out there, although, I do believe it's still great in it's own way.

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• Salt & Stone
• Victoria Scott

• Publisher:Chicken House LTD (April 15 2015)
• ISBN-13: 978-1910002063
• Genre: Dystopian(maybe), Thriller, Young adult
• Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles | Book Depository
• Source: Review Copy was sent free of charge via Scholastic Press. Thank you Saraciea.
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• *The review and synopsis has mild spoilers for the previous book.
• Synopsis: What would you do to save someone you love? What about risking...everything. In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and a terrifying march across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't stop—and in Salt & Stone, Tella will have to face the unseen dangers of the ocean, the breathless cold of a mountain, and the twisted new rules in the race. But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you've relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another? The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the beginning of the race there were 122 Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the fourth and final part of the race, just forty-one are left...and only one can win.

• *This review is more shorter since it's part of a series, and I don't much to say to add to what's been said already in my earlier review. Salt & Stone is the second book and the continuation of the Fire and Flood series. Tella now has survived the jungle, and the desert. In an another journey, she must have now survive in the remaining two ecosystems: ocean and mountain. Tella and her remaining friends are one of the few still alive and only one can win. The second book in the series wasn't as great as I would have wanted it to be, it's still good, and it does have plenty of potential - however, it could have been much than Tella just trying to prove to Guy she can handle herself without him. Personally, you shouldn't ever need to prove yourself to anyone - there's something called faith which the person should have in you. There's much more angst in the novel between the couple which is unappealing. The cover is amazingly, gorgeous though.. it just suits the setting of this novel so much, ocean.

• The author does have a great way of writing, and she is talented in creating adventures. I swear, every time Tella is in danger - I hold my breath, my heart is pounding, and I nervously turn the page. Tella finally does reach character growth in this novel, the female friendships with Harper and Olivia were amazing as well. It's great to see Tella going from a shallow hater to a young woman with spunk and growth. This series is overall wonderful to read about, I couldn't wait to find out what happens next, and I actually read both books in one setting. Now, it's time to part with these series.. until the third book comes out. If not, I'll miss Tella, Guy, Harper, Olivia.. and Maddox and Monster the most. You crazy, cutesy pandora's.

Thank you for reading this! Have an amazing month of June - Leave your blog links in the comments & I'll be sure to check them out & drop by :) Stay in tuned pretty creatures..

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron 

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